Who We Are - Outdoor Writers of Ohio
Who Are We?
Become a Member
Who Are We?
We are journalists, authors, broadcasters, and professional communicators. We write for newspapers and magazines, and author books. We work for or with radio stations. We are photographers, website designers, and video production professionals. We work to communicate the messages of the conservation and resource management organizations
We are journalists, authors, broadcasters, and professional communicators. We write for newspapers and magazines, and author books. We work for or with radio stations. We are photographers, website designers, and video production professionals. We work to communicate the messages of the conservation and resource management organizations of Ohio, and to provide information for people who explore and enjoy the outdoors.
Our Purpose
Become a Member
Who Are We?
As an organization of professional communicators, Outdoor Writers of Ohio is devoted to fostering the highest standards of journalistic skill and integrity among its membership. Although OWO embraces no political philosophy, the organization and its membership are pledged to promote the wise use of our natural resources and to defend the
As an organization of professional communicators, Outdoor Writers of Ohio is devoted to fostering the highest standards of journalistic skill and integrity among its membership. Although OWO embraces no political philosophy, the organization and its membership are pledged to promote the wise use of our natural resources and to defend the environment against abuse and exploitation. Above all else, the Outdoor Writers of Ohio, Inc., recognizes and accepts the role of the media as a public trust and is dedicated to the ideals of truth and conservation without regard to personal or private gain.
Become a Member
Become a Member
Become a Member
Membership in OWO is open to professionals in the fields of newspaper and magazine, photography and graphic arts, film/video production, radio and television broadcasting, and public information. Click the Join OWO tab above for an application.
Current membership
Abrams, Jim
Batin, Chris
Baumgartner, Celeste
Beathard, Jane
Bennett, John H.
Bird, Jonathan
Carpenter, Scott
Caudill, Brian
Chow, Andy
Clowes, Don
Cross, Tom
De Mott, PhD, Robert
Denny, Guy
DePaola, Chris
Freeman, Hazel
Frischkorn, Beverly
Frischkorn, Jeffrey
Greason, Brandy
Gross, W.H. ‘Chip
Hageman, John
Hathaway, Melissa
Johnson, Grace
Kelch, Maggie
Kochensparger, Jamie
Lane, Jim
Langer, Sadie
Loewendick, Robert
Mainhart, Mike
Markey, Matt
Maslowski, Steve
Maurer, David
McKnight, Gina
Moore, Larry
Moore Jr., Mike
Mountz, Vicki
Pegman, Andrew
Pollick, Stephen
Quigley, George
Rahtz, Jim
Smith, Alan
Smith, Kristina
Snyder, Fred
Snyder, Timothy
Tertuliani, John
Tontimonia, Mike
Vance, Grace
Weber, Art
Wells, Judy
Windau, John
officers and trustees
Officers
News Editor
Officers
President
Hazel Freeman
Vice President
Kristina Smith
Secretary - Treasurer
Jim Rahtz
Past President
Jeff Frischkorn
Trustees
News Editor
Officers
Celeste Baumgartner
Beverly Frischkorn
Jamie Kochensparger
Andrew Pegman
Mike Mainhart
Mike Moore
News Editor
News Editor
News Editor
Editor of Lore (OWO’s quarterly newsletter):
Bev Frischkorn, editor.lore57@gmail.com
Past presidents
2023 - Hazel Freeman
2021 - 23 - Jim Rahtz
2021 - James Proffit
2019 - 21 - Jeff Huxmann
2017 – 19 Mike Mainhart
2015 – 17 John Hageman
2013 – 15 Robert Loewendick
2011 – ’13 Timothy Snyder
2009 – ’11 Chip Hart
2007 -09′ Celeste Baumgartner
2005 -06′ Scott Carpenter
2005 – Bruce Dawson
2004 – Melissa Hathaway
2003 – Jeffrey Frischkorn
2002 – Tom Cross
2001 – Vicki Mountz
2000 – Tom Melody
1999 – Bob ‘Greenie’ Grewell
1998 – Mike Tontimonia
1997 – Bruce Knodel
1996 – Ted Barton
1995 – A.C. Tony Pollack
1994 – Richard Combs
1993 – John Andreoni
1992 – Fred L. Snyder
1991 – W.H. Chip Gross
1990 – Art Weber
1989 – Jeffrey Frishkorn
1988 – Paul Liikala
1987 – Ben Doepel
1986 – Hob McKarns
1985 – Michael Hoffman
1984 – Bill Ignizio
1983 – Steve Pollick
1982 – Bob Light
1981 – Jane Barr
1980 – Ray Grob
1979 – Woody Earnheart
1978 – Don Burns
1977 – Ed Bair
1976 – Soc Clay
1975 – George Quigley
1974 – Parker Bauer
1973 – Fred Nofziger
1972 – Bill Gressard
1971 – James Daubel
1970 – Bob Ross
1969 – Lowell Wodrich
1968 – Dick Seitz
1967 – Jim Light, Jr.
1966 – Bob Rankin
1965 – Dick Paugh
1964 – Ralph ‘Spiv’ Harris
1963 – Bob Hart
1962 – Ken Mack
1961 – Don Miller
1960 – Karl Maslowski
1959 – John Anderson
1958 – Charles McClellan
1957 – Erwin Bauer
1956 – Mike Nauer
1955 – Burt Brickner
1954 – Hank Andrews
1953 – George Laycock
1952 – Don Snyder
1951 – Carl Debloom
1950 – Glen Montgomery
1947 – 1949 Lou Klewer
1946 – Fred Luttenburger
1944 – 1945 George Robey
1941 – 1943 Bill Ackerman
1939 – 1940 Harold C. Devine
supporting members
Adams County Travel & Visitors Bureau
No place like Adams County, most wildlife diversity of any county in Ohio. Thriving Amish community, bird watching, wildflowers, natural prairies, home to the 20,000-acre Edge of Appalachia Preserve, and Ohio’s only wilderness area in Shawnee State Forest. www.adamscountytravel.org
Akron/Summit Convention & Visitors Bureau
The Akron/Summit Convention & Visitors Bureau promotes Greater Akron/Summit County as an ideal destination for meetings, conventions, expositions, group tours and leisure travel pursuits. Our office is a clearinghouse for area travel/tourism information. www.akron.travel
B & M Pole Co. Inc.
Importer & distributor of fishing products. www.bnmpoles.com
Boat Owners Association of The United States
BoatUS is the nation’s largest organization of recreational boaters with more than 800,000 members. On the water, our TowBoatUS towing fleet brings anglers safely back to the launch ramp or dock when their boat won’t - day or night. On the road, our Trailer Assist service ensures a trailer breakdown doesn’t end your fishing trip before it begins. www.BoatUS.com
Black Powder Products, Inc. (BPI)
Our brands include CVA muzzleloading and center-fire guns and accessories, PowerBelt muzzleloading bullets and accessories, Quaker hunting and shooting accessories, DUALSIGHT scope mounts and BERGARA barrels, actions and rifles. BPI is located in Lawrenceville, Georgia. www.bpioutdoors.com/cva.com
Cambridge/Guernsey County Visitors & Convention Bureau
Start your outdoor adventure in Cambridge/Guernsey County, located at the intersection of Interstates 70 & 77 in southeast Ohio. Contact us for our travel guide, including information on camping, hunting, fishing, horseback riding, walking trails, motorcycle trails, disc golf courses and the Ohio Whitetail Deer Hall of Fame Museum. Visit Salt Fork State Park, Seneca Lake and The Wilds. New in 2023 is the Cambridge Ice Rink open November – March each year. www.VisitGuernseyCounty.com
Chautauqua County Visitors Bureau, Inc.
We are a tourism promotion agency for Chautauqua County, NY. We offer a variety of fishing experiences on Lake Erie, Chautauqua Lake
and surrounding inland lakes and streams. Hunting options include deer, turkey, black bear, waterfowl and small game. www.tourchautauqua.com
Civilian Marksmanship Program
The Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) is a national organization dedicated to training and educating U.S. citizens in responsible uses of firearms and air guns – presented through gun safety and marksmanship instruction as well as a variety of indoor and outdoor competitions. www.thecmp.org
Columbiana County Federation of Conservation Clubs
Columbiana County Federation of Conservation Clubs (CCFCC) is a county-wide federation of local sportsman's clubs who support our heritage of hunting, fishing, and trapping, and actively work to promote education of our youth in the shooting sports and the great outdoors. CCFCC is also active at the state level in support of the ODNR Division of Wildlife and their programs.
Destination Niagara USA
General tourism info on the Niagara Falls USA area with a focus on the outdoors - world class fishing as well as hiking, biking, boating, birding and hunting. www.niagarafallsusa.com
Destination Toledo, Inc.
Destination Toledo is the official Destination Marketing Organization for the Greater Toledo and Northwest Ohio area. Our core mission is to attract meeting, convention and tourism business to the region. Toledo is an attractive travel destination with a wide variety of hotel, restaurant and entertainment options and we’d like the opportunity to show you around. Please reach out to a member of our staff when planning your next visit, meeting or event. www.visittoledo.org
Flambeau Outdoors
Hunting and fishing sporting goods manufacturer since 1947. www.flambeauoutdoors.com
You don't have to live near the coast to make a difference for the oceans. Our local chapters organize beach cleanups, lobby for policy changes, and more. Find a group near you and get involved.
Hocking Hills Tourism Association
The Hocking Hills Tourism Association is the official destination marketing and management organization for the Hocking Hills, Ohio’s natural crown jewels. www.ExploreHockingHills.com
Izaak Walton League of America, Ohio Division
America’s oldest Conservation League formed by sportsmen in 1922.
Jann’s Netcraft, LLC
Netcraft offers a complete selection of components and material for lure making, rod building, fly tying and net making, plus many unique fishing tackle products. www.jannsnetcraft.com
Lake Erie Charter Boat Association
Charter boat association on Lake Erie.
Lake Erie Marine Trades Association
Full service marine trades association, including boat shows, productions in Ohio and Indiana. www.lemta.com
Lake Metroparks
Lake Metroparks is a public county-wide park district in Lake County, Ohio encompassing 37 parks with more than 8,100 acres. www.lakemetroparks.com
Medina County Convention and Visitor’s Bureau
Destination Marketing Organization for Medina County. Information on attractions, Recreation, Parks, Dining, Lodging, Festivals, Events Museums, Farmers Markets. www.VisitMedinaCounty.com
Metroparks Toledo
Metroparks Toledo is the 2020 National Gold Medal Award recipient for large park districts in the United States. The park system includes 19 Metroparks, 200 miles of trails, nationally significant historical sites and internationally significant natural areas. Recent additions include The Cannaley Treehouse Village, the nation’s only public treehouse village, at Oak Openings Preserve. Metroparks recently opened three new parks, completing a promise to place a park within five miles of every resident of Lucas County. It has now undertaken the transformation of Toledo’s riverfront called Glass City Riverwalk consisting of new parks and trails in the heart of the city. www.metroparkstoledo.com
Miami County Visitor & Convention Bureau
Go to resource for obtaining information about all outdoor attractions, events and activities. Recreational Trail is part of the largest paved trail system in the country. Great Miami River just received National Riverway designation. www.hometowngreat.com
Miller Ferries to Put-in-Bay & Middle Bass Island
Passenger and vehicle ferry service to the Lake Erie Islands of Put-in- Bay (South Bass Island) and Middle Bass Island, Ohio. Service daily, spring, summer and fall from Catawba. www.millerferry.com
Mohican-Loudonville Convention & Visitors Bureau
Outdoor adventures begin in Mohican. Visit www.DiscoverMohican.com to discover why Mohican ROCKS!
Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District
The Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District covers 20 percent of Ohio, providing flood reduction and water conservation along with Outdoor Recreation Opportunities. Millions of people enjoy boating, fishing, camping, hiking and hunting each year. www.mwcd.org
National Shooting Sports Foundation, Inc.
NSSF, The Firearm Industry Trade Association, is the go-to resource for media working on stories about the industry, its products, statistics and trends, hunting, shooting, firearm safety and related topics. NSSF has 10,000 member manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers, ranges and hunting and shooting organizations. NSSF owns the SHOT Show. www.nssf.org
Ohio Division of Parks and Watercraft
Ohio’s 74 state parks provide access to all types of outdoor recreation, including hunting, fishing, boating, hiking, and wildlife viewing, as well as camping, cottages and lodges. Ohio State Parks have won the National Gold Medal Award for state park excellence. www.ohiostateparks.org
Ohio Division of Wildlife
The Division of Wildlife is the state agency responsible for management of Ohio’s fish and wildlife resources. The Division maintains more than 172,000 acres of wildlife areas that are open to the public and are used for hunting, fishing, trapping, wildlife viewing and other wildlife related recreations. www.wildohio.com
Ohio Natural Area & Preserves Association (ONAPA)
We are dedicated to promoting, protecting, and improving Ohio’s natural areas and preserves. www.onapa.org
Ohio State Chapter – National Wild Turkey Federation
The Ohio State Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation is devoted to the conservation and improvement of wild turkey and all wildlife habitat in the great state of Ohio. www.ohionwtf.org
Preservation Parks of Delaware Ohio
Metropolitan Park District, organized under chapter 1545 of the ORC. Nature preservation, educational programs, picnic shelters, trails, fishing, canoeing, and hiking. www.preservationparks.com
Renfro Productions and Management, Inc.
For more than 68 years, the Renfro family has been helping exhibitors build relationships with qualified outdoor enthusiasts! We are a family owned and operated business who understands your business and has the “know how” to bring you qualified potential customers. By using a combination of the most effective advertising methods, we’ll take care of attracting the right customers to each show so you can start connecting and building relationships with new customers in your target audience. www.renfroproductions.com
Rocky Outdoor Gear Store
Outdoor/hunting boots and apparel, firearms & ammo, bow department. www.rockyoutdoorgearstore.com
Shores & Islands Ohio
Tourism promotion agency for Erie and Ottawa Counties. www.shoresandislands.com
Thundermist Lure Company Inc
Providing innovative, quality lures, terminal tackle and rigs since 2006. Also active on YouTube with educational/entertaining fishing shows. YouTube.com/thundermistlures. www.thundermistlures.com
Traditions Media, LLC
Traditions Media is a progressive-public-relations, media communications, influencer marketing and social media group exclusively serving the outdoors industry. Our unique team is built of professional writers and communicators who also have acute understandings of the business-of-the-business. Our partners include Scentlok, Hard Core, Daiwa, Minelab, Whitewater, Northland Tackle, Bagley, NPAA, Future angler Foundation, Ego Nets, Wilcraft. Traditions Media is an outdoor PR and marketing group. We camp, but only to be closer to the fish. We climb, but will never summit anything above the treeline. We bike, but usually only when our trucks break down. Now fishing, Hunting? Right there in our wheelhouse. And can communicate fishing and hunting information to folks fast and with a flavor that is only Traditions Media. www.traditionsmedia.com
Tuscarawas County Convention and Visitors Bureau
Come write your story in outdoor adventures. From rock climbing to hiking, biking to canoeing - your next headline is here to discover. Small towns, Big Stories, Huge adventure. www.traveltusc.com
Visit Erie
Visit Erie is the leader for marketing Erie’s tourism industry and promoting it’s economic growth. Enjoy fishing, hunting, and birding along the beautiful shores of Lake Erie. www.VisitErie.com
Whitetails Unlimited
Founded in 1982, Whitetails Unlimited is a national, nonprofit conservation organization. Our mission is to raise funds in support of education, habitat enhancement and acquisition, and the preservation of the hunting tradition for the benefit of the white-tailed deer and other wildlife. When it comes to the whitetail and its environment, WTU’s degree of professionalism and dedication has earned us the reputation of being the nation’s premier whitetail organization. www.whitetailsunlimited.com
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